Acetylene-gas generator.



J. K. HAWKINS. ACETY LENB GAS GENERATOR. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 15, 1912.

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IVITNESSES INVENTOR LDLUMUIA PLANOGRAPH cu.. WASHINGTON. n, c.

Patented Dec. 17, 1912.

J. K. HAWKINS. AOETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15, 1912.

1,047,219, PatentedDec. 17,1912.

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WITNESSES INVENTOR wig A9 ww y JOHN K. HAWKINS, OF MOI-IAWK, TENNESSEE.

' ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17,1912.

Application filed May 15, 1912. Serial No. 697,450.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN K. HAWKINS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mohawk, in the county of Greene and State of Tennessee, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-GasGenerators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in acetylene gasgenerators, and has for its object to minimize the cost of manufacturinga reliable and effective apparatus of this kind, which will fulfil therequirements in every respect.

A further object of this invention is to provide means under the controlof the attendant for controlling the generation and supply of gas.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of thecharacter specified in which the parts may be established ordisassembled, and whereby the carbid holders may be removed to becleaned and recharged.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists inthe novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of partsillustrated in the drawings and more particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view ofan acetylene gas generator embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevationof the supporting means for the carbid holders, and Fig. 4 is an edgeview of one of the carbid holders.

Referring to the drawings for a more particular description of theinvention, 1 indicates a cylindrical metallic water tank, 2thecylindrical casing of the generator, and 3 the carbid holders. Thegenerator casing 2 is entirely open at its bottom and is supported bythe brackets 4 riveted or otherwise secured to the inner surface of thewater tank. The top of the generator casing is closed, as at 5, andis'provided with an outlet pipe 6 connected with the flexible hose 7which leads to a point outside the build ing. The pipe 6 is providedwit-h a hand valve 8, the purpose of which will be evident. The casing 2of the generator is provided with a central vertical sleeve 9, the lowerend of which terminates at a point flush with the bottom edge of thecasing, and the upper end of which projects a suitable distance abovethe top of the casing, as shown.

The supporting means for the carbid holders consists of a series of fouror more upright metal bars 10 provided, each, with a horizontal arm 11,which are spaced one above the other, and which support the carbidholders 8. The carbid holders are of cylindrical form, as shown, and areprovided at the bottom with U-shaped keepers or clips 12 which fit on orreceive the outer ends of the arms 11, whereby the holders are retainedin place. Each holder is further provided with a handle 13 to facilitatein placing or removing it from position, and is further provided with ahinged lid or cover 14 and a series of circumferentially spaced openings15 for the ingress of the water in the tank to the interior of thecarbid holders. The water tank is provided with the pipe 16 providedwith the valve 17 for determining when the tank has been filled to thenormal level. The lower ends of the upright bars 10 are connected withthe lower end of the upright adjusting and supporting rod 16 which fitsin the sleeve 9 with its upper end projecting thereabove. The upper endof the rod 16 is provided with a series of four or more transverseapertures 17 any one of which is adapted to be engaged by the springprojected pin 18. The bars 10 are provided at their lower ends with theangularly disposed supporting legs 19, the purpose of which will behereinafter specified. An outlet pipe 20 communicates with the upper endof the generator casing for distributing the generated gas tothe lights.The generator casing is provided near its top and at the exterior with anumber of lugs 21 adapted to engage catches 22 secured to the innersurface of the water tank, whereby the generator and associated partsare held against rising in the tank by the pressure of the gas.

In assembling the parts in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 1, thecarbid holders, after being filled with carbid are inserted on the arms11 of the upright supporting bars 10, during which operation the partsare supported by the legs 19 resting on the ground or suitable support.The generator casing is next inserted in position around the carbidholders and the generator then lowered in the tank with its bottomresting .openings saturates the carbid, and there by forms the carbidgas which passes out of 7 the top of the holder into the surroundingspace. The supporting rod 16 may be lowered from time to time as thewater level drops or it may be sufficiently lowered. at the start toimmerse two or even all of the carbid holders simultaneously, which willof course increase the amount of gas generated proportionately. Theflexible hose 7 connected with the pipe 6 leads to the exterior of thebuilding and carries away the air replaced by the water in filling thetank and also carries off any gas 'in the top of the generator beforeremoving the latter from place. The hinged covers of the superposedholders will prevent any water of condensation in the top of thegenerator casing from dripping into contact with the carbid. Thegenerator tank may be removed after turningit a fraction of a revolutionto disengage the lugs 21 from the catches 22.

It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the materials used,nor to dimensions or proportions, but claim the right to use my ownjudgment in these respects calculated to give the best results. From theforegoing description taken in connection with the drawings, it isthought that the construction, operation and advantages of thisinvention will be readily understood without requiring a more extendedexplanation.

Various changes in the form, proportions and minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the principles orsacrificing any of the advantages of this invention as defined in theappended claims.

Having described my invention What I claim as new is:

1. A device of the character specified comprising a water tank, agenerator casing opened at its lower end, mounted therein, a series ofcarbid holders mounted in the easing, said holders being spacedcircumferentially and vertically instepped relation, each of saidholders having a hinged cover and provided in its body with a series oftransverse openings for the ingress of the water, supporting means forthe carbid holders and means for supporting and adjusting saidsupporting means vertically in the casing, whereby one or more of theholders may be immersed in the water at the same time, or may be loweredto compensate for the fall of the water level.

2. A device of the character specified comprising a water tank, agenerator casing open at its lower end, mounted therein, a series ofcarbid holders mounted in the casing, supporting means for said holdersconsist-ing of a series of four or more upright supporting bars providedwith horizontal arms on which the holders are mounted, .a sleeveextending from the bottom of the generator casing through and above thetop thereof, an adjusting and supporting rod working through the sleeve,said rod connected at its lower end with the lower ends of saidsupporting bars and provided in its upper ends with a series oftransverse vertically spaced apertures and a spring projected pinarranged for engagement with any one of the apertures in the upper endof said adjusting and supporting rod.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN K. HAWKINS. Witnesses L. A. HAnMoN, L. HARMON.

Copies of this patentmay be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

.Washington, D. G.

